The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-11-13
BoSToN's QUEER PRISONER.
Tho Man vhs Dared to Preach on the Cor
mon Stiil Locked Up In the Place orFeIons.

The Man whs Dared to Preach On the Com.
mon st'n Locked Up In the Place orFeIon..
BOSTON, Nov. lathe fate of William f.
Davis. tho Clergyman who still lies In Jail for
preaching the Gospel on Boston Common. con-
tinues to be a prominent topic OF local discus
sion. Several prominent clergymen ut meet
Ing the other day very unjustly made his case
the basis OF a savage attack upon Mayor
O'Brien. They undertook to hold the Mayor
responsible for the enforcement of the ordl-
nance requiring permit for such purpose.
when. as a matter of fact, the Mayor is no more
concerned In the matter than q private citizen
would be-. The ordinance is an old one. and
Government. It was enforced not BY the MAJOR
Of Police, which is appointed by the Governor.
At the same meeting the Rev 10 Cook said.
Sss Of hh tie afHS av e
making a tour q the world Boston is the irst
Gospel is followed by arrest. I wouldlike both
Common. would not even arrest the aSitator
except In timo OF tumult. The action OF the
city city has brought US into disrepute even in dis
Mr.. Davis was my college mate. I have
known him for quarter of a century. Very
under the Cambridge Gins He was then what
no Is now. y man Of supreme consciousness
and decisive strength.
You say he IS a man lacking in Judgment
nance. Perhaps he. is farther-sighted than
am for Keeping arbirary power out Of the
hands, not only Of Catholics. but OF Protestants
Hthemselyees. >, Il the liberty tree on Boston
E Thoe people, not tho will OF clique in our
sort. and q good deal OF popular indignuiion
was manifested by the large audience. Mr..
Davis himself is very much disappointel that
his rights under the Massachu St1 ill pV Of
cemmonweatR than evan the iW 10 IL
self. The Massachusetts Supreme Court has
decided that the obnoxious ORDINANCES is CON
stltutlonS but by some misleading Mr.. Davis
JAILED 70 reserve tho right TO carry his case
still higher. He must therefore remain in
Of fines and costs imposed upon him. Most OF
his book, which g said TO be history OF his
contentious with tho laws and ordinances. He
Priety in all things, even to refusing to receive
II is said at tho iail that he is allowed many
privileges and receives many visitors.
tb aWa ministers permits to visit hin
cell before they knelt and began to pray
loudly that the occupants OF other cells hogan
the corridor into pandemonium. The deputy
~, shherin IN charge was c2mnellel to interrupt
me prayer meeting, All EFFORTS TO turn br.
Davis from the course he has marked out Tor
himself are quite unaynilinG. Ho Is absolutely
IN Ss se w Bbs Of Raaa ba l
deavors to bring all who visit him 10 his own
Vows of the Gospel. lie has no Ill word for
his religious opponents. but IL persuasive In
all his arguments.
As matter or fact, he could obtain his re-
Lease at any time by organising not again to
will never do. His wife. faithful. eonscienti.
GUS woman. who fully sustains her husband in
all his ideas, denies that no receives privileges
as a prisoner which the iHil authorities repre-
sent are given to him. She says that ehe il
Thursday when she has an interyiew Of only
ton minutes with the bars OF tho cell between
them, and an official at her side. II is quite
not before. public effort viii be- made toward
securing O. repeal OF the ordinance which, In
one sense. foTbidA freo speech In the streets OF